Optical character recognition systems

Abstract

Optical character recognition (OCR) is process of classification of optical patterns contained in a digital image. The character recognition is achieved through segmentation, feature extraction and classification. This chapter presents the basic ideas of OCR needed for a better understanding of the book. The chapter starts with a brief background and history of OCR systems. Then the different techniques of OCR systems such as optical scanning, location segmentation, pre-processing, segmentation, representation, feature extraction, training and recognition and post-processing. The different applications of OCR systems are highlighted next followed by the current status of the OCR systems. Finally, the future of the OCR systems is presented.